The Canberra Collaboration for ATOD research, policy and practice is in its early stages and is largely unfunded. The vision is to develop a coherent mechanism for expanding and strengthening ATOD research in the ACT and region, and improving ATOD policy and its implementation.
For further information or to participate in the Canberra Collaboration Project please contact ATODA on info@atoda.org.au or (02) 6255 4070.
Evidence-informed policy is a particularly difficult challenge for the ATOD field because of the multiple inputs into policy activity in this area. Policy development and implementation are impacted upon by attitudes, values, public opinion, etc., and have to compete with other sectors such as medical care, law enforcement, education, social welfare, etc., making it difficult for ATOD research to have as much impact on policy activity and its implementation as many would like.
Some ATOD practitioners are concerned that their practice is not as evidence-informed as it could be, and they are keen to ensure that the services that they provide to their clients are of the best possible quality, reflecting the latest and best knowledge about what works, with whom, and in what circumstances.
There are many people engaging in research in the ATOD field in the ACT. Many of these do not identify specifically as ATOD researchers, finding their professional identities within their own disciplines. They apply the paradigms, research strategies and methods that characterise their own disciplines to answering research questions relating to drugs. This constitutes a missed opportunity for the benefits that come from integrating a range of different worldviews and approaches to research. At the same time, many ACT ATOD researchers would like to be more effective in influencing drug policy. Most are isolated, however, from the policy environment. They do not know what questions policymakers are dealing with that could be supported through research.
Some drug policy workers are unaware of the interests and skills that local researchers could contribute to their work; others have little or no experience in collaborating with external researchers in their work as policy officers. Similarly, some practitioners providing ATOD services in the community would welcome
opportunities to be involved in research activities, and to be more actively engaged with researchers with the aim of enhancing the quality of their practice. This comes, in part, to workforce development and continuing professional education activities that should be linked to quality improvement within agencies. What this means is that we have a problem of three communities with insufficient interaction.
Both practical and attitudinal barriers exist to mutually respectful and productive interactions between members of the three communities. An additional challenge is that, in the ACT, we have no coherent program of ATOD research. It sometimes happens that studies are conducted in parallel with researchers not being aware of what other researchers are doing, and with little capacity for integration and the synergy that flows from combining research insights achieved through a range of different studies. All this means that it is valuable to implement strategies to address these deficiencies within the local context.
A Directory was developed that includes contact details of Canberra Collaboration participants who are ATOD researchers, policy workers, practitioners and consumer in the ACT and region.
If you would like to be added to the Canberra Collaboration Directory, please contact ATODA at info@atoda.org.au or (02) 6249 6358.
On October 2012, an initial workshop was held at the ATODA office where the purpose of the project was described and discussed. It was agreed that the ATOD sector would benefit from such an initiative and therefore it was decided to go forward with the project.
The workshop was held on Thursday 31 November 2013 at the ANU Commons Function Centre. It aimed to gather ACT ATOD researchers across institutions and other key stakeholders to network, exchange ideas and support future collaborations.
Speakers included:
- MS Helene Delany, Alcohol and Drug Policy, ACT Health
- Ms Carrie Fowlie, ATODA
- Dr Anna Olsen, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), RSPH, ANU
- Professor John Cunningham, Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR), ANU
- Dr Stephanie Taplin, Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU
- Dr Rebecca McKetin, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health & Wellbeing (CRAHW), ANU
- Mr Raglan Maddox, Centre for Research and Action in Public Health (CeRAPH), University of Canberra
- Dr Soumya Mazumdar & Dr Mofizul Islam, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, ANU
Click here to download the program.
The Symposium was held on Thursday 27 November 2014 at the ANU Commons Function Centre. It aimed to gather ACT-based cross-institutional researchers, services workers, policy makers and consumers to showcase recent ACT ATOD research activities.
The research presented is aligned with key ATOD sector and ACT Government policy priorities including:
- Reforms to the care and protection system including the new Out of Home Care Strategy
- Updating the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tobacco Control Strategy
- The revision of the model of care for the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
Invited speakers included:
- MS Helene Delany, Alcohol and Drug Policy, ACT Health
- Ms Carrie Fowlie, ATODA
- Dr Andrew Pengiley, Acting Chief Health Officer, ACT Health
- Dr Stephanie Taplin, Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University
- Mr Raglan Maddox, Centre for Research and Action in Public Health (CeRAPH), University of Canberra
- Dr Bianca Calabria, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales
- Mr David McDonald, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University
- Dr Rebecca McKetin, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health & Wellbeing (CRAHW), The Australian National University
- Mr Sione Crawford, Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy
The Symposium also included a panel and workshop focused on better understanding the use of, and our responses to, crystalline methamphetamines in the ACT. Panellists included:
- Mr David McDonald, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University – What does AOD science tell us about the trajectories of drug epidemics?
- Dr Rebecca McKetin, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health & Wellbeing (CRAHW), The Australian National University – What’s the “ice” story in Australia?
- Mr Sione Crawford, Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy – What’s the “ice” story in Canberra?
Click here to download the program